Gearless oscillating drive



June 1, 1948.

H. S. BANCROFT GEARLESS OSCILLATING DRIVE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 22, 1947 3rwentor f/awqra -5.' Bane/off.

Gttorneg Emmi H. S. BANCROFT GEARLESS OSCILLATING DRIVE June 1, 1948.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1947 Patented June 1, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEARLESS OSCILLATING DRIVE Howard S. Bancroft, Sharon, Pa.

Application January 22, 1947, Serial No. 723,512

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to drive mechanisms and more particularly to drive mechanisms adapted for use in washing machine constructions.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a drive mechanism for transposing rotating movement as from a drive shaft to oscillating movement on a driven shaft.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a gearless oscillating drive mechanism of extremely simple and durable construction capable of economic manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a gearless oscillating drive mechanism including mechanical means for transporting rotating motion from a drive shaft to oscillating motion in a driven shaft positioned at right angles to the said drive shaft.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a gearless oscillating drive in which a minimum of moving parts are employed and the mechanism resulting is therefore capable of substantial duty over long life.

The gearless oscillating drive shown and described herein is particularly adaptable for use in washing machine constructions wherein rotating movement of a drive shaft such as motivated by an ordinary electric motor is of necessity transferred to oscillating motion on a vertical shaft which in turn is used to impart oscillating movement to an agitator such as used in washing machine constructions.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts broken away and parts in cross section illustrating the adaption of the gearless oscillating drive to a washing machine construction. 7

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of the gearless oscillating drive with parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the gearless oscillating drive shown in Figure 2 and taken on line 3-3 thereof.

Figure! is a side elevation of the gearless oscillating drive with parts in cross section and taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross section taken on line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross section similar to Figure 5 and showing a modified form of the gearless oscillating drive.

Figure 7 is a vertical cross section taken on line 1-4 of Figure 6 and further illustates the modification of the gearless oscillating drive.

Figure 8 is a horizontal cross section of a modified form of gearless oscillating drive.

Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8.

By referring to the drawings and Figure 1 in particular it will be seen that a washing machine construction is disclosed which includes a tub in having an agitator Ii positioned therein on a supporting tubular member l2, the lower portion of which extends through an opening l3 in the bottom of the tub l0 and about Which opening I3 suitable glands M are positioned to form a water-tight connection. The tub I0 is supported in elevated relation to a supporting surface such as a floor by means of a plurality of legs 15. A shelf Hi is positioned between the legs [5 and serves to support an electric motor ll.

The agitator- H in the tub I0 of the washing machine is adapted to be moved in an oscillating movement as is customary in washing machines of this general type. In order that such movement may be imparted thereto, a vertical driven shaft I8 is positioned in the tubular member l2 and the uppermost end of the vertical driven shaft [8 extends out of the uppermost end of the tubular member l2 and terminates in a squared end section [9. The squared end section [9 is adapted to register with a similarly squared socket in the apex of the agitator II. A gland 20 is positioned about the vertical driven shaft l8 so as to close the uppermost end of the tubular member and prevent water from the tub 10 of the washing machine from entering the same.

The construction thus far described approximates the ordinary washing machine construction inwhich an oscillating agitator is used.

In order that the vertical driven shaft [8 may be coupled to the electric motor l'l so that oscillating movement may be imparted to the vertical driven shaft [8, a gearless oscillating drive has been positioned in operative relation to a drive shaft 21 of the electric motor I! and. the lower portion of the vertical driven shaft l8. The gearless oscillating drive comprises the coupling and means for translating the rotating movement 3 of the horizontal drive shaft 2| to oscillating movement in the vertical driven shaft IS.

The gearless oscillating drive is shown in enlarged detail in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings and by referring now to Figure 2, in which a 5 vertical cross section of the mechanism is illustrated, it will be seen that the vertical driven shaft l8 has a slot 22 formed therein in which a block 23 is positioned for vertical movement. A stud 24 is threaded'int'o a'drilled and tappedopeningand 10 has a projecting section having a'ball 25'thereon. It will be observed that the projecting section carrying the ball 25 extends outwardly through the slot 22 and through a registering opening ziiin the tubular member I2. Positioned on the side of the tubular member l2 and forming an-enclosure about the opening :26 therein there is a casing 21 which positions a dis'c'28 which in turn is formed on one end of the drive shaft 23 heretofore referred to as being in connection with the electric motor [7. A bushing 29-is bolted-or other- Wise aflixed to the casing 21 and serves -to position the drive shaft 2| in a suitable'bearing andat the same time hold the disc 28 inoperative relation to the casing '21 for relatively free rotation there- 25 In order that the motion of the disc 28 may be imparted to the vertical driven shaft 1 8, an opening is formed in the disc -28 and in the face thereof in registry with the opening 26 in the tubular member I 2 so that the'ball 25on the projecting section of the stud 24 will register therein. In order that abnormal wear will not take place, a, bushing-3| is -positioned-inthe-opening 30 for direct frictional engagement with the ball 25. It will thus be seen that at such time as the drive shaft 2| is rotatedas by the electric motor II, the disc 28 will revolve-andthe opening 30 therein will define a circle which will impart the same movement to the stud by reason of the ball 25 thereof being in registry in the opening 30. As the disc "28 revolves, the ball 25 on the projecting section of the stud 24 will follow the circular movement of the opening 30 i'n'the 'disc 28 and move in and out of the opening (ill in "2.0-

cordance with the access of the vertical driven shaft l8 which controls the positioning'o'f thestud 24. Thus, it will be seen that the ball 25*on the projecting section of the stud 24 will be deeply seated in the opening 30 in the disc 28 when the heretofore described. Thus, the agitator H in the tub I0 of the washing machine is caused to oscillate.

The vertical movement of the ball 25 on the projecting section of the stud '24-iscompensated for by the vertical travelof =theblock23 in the slot 22 0f the vertical-driven shaft l8 asheretofore described so thatsuch vertical movement-"is not imparted to thevertical-driven shaft |8. The vertical movement being dissipated, the sole movement-of the gearless oscillating drive is the oscillating movement imparted to the vertical driven shaft i8.

In F s 10f h d awingsa deaiiee view of a;

the mounting of the bushing 29 may be seen and it will be observed that the flanged bushing 29 is affixed as by bolts 32 to the casing 21.

In Figure 4 of the drawings a vertical cross section of the gearless oscillating drive is shown and it will be observed that the disc 23 is shown cut away with the opening 30 therein exposed and the ball 25 on the projecting section of the stud 24 may be seen in position therein. In Figure 4 the vertical cross section illustrates the vertical movement of the block 23 in the tubular member l2, which action dissipates the vertical motion and the same is not therefore imparted to the vertical driven shaft l8.

In Figure 5 of the drawings a horizontal cross section taken on line 5--5 of Figure 2 may be seen. It will be-observed that the ball 25 on the projecting end of the stud 24 is in uppermost position, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, and the movement imparted thereby to the vertical driven shaft i8 is indicated by arrows in the figure. It will thus be seen that the block 23 is capable of vertical travel by reason of its positioning in the oppositely disposed slots 22 in the vertical driven shaft [8.

In Figures 6 and -'7-of the drawings, modifications in the structure hereinbefore disclosed and described may be seen, the modifications comprising a mechanical device approximating the utility of the vertically sliding block 23 in the device heretofore described. In Figures 6 and '7 a vertical driven shaft 33 is positioned for rotating movement in a tubular member 34 and has a cut away area-35 in which a section 36 is pivoted as by a pivot 3'! positioned transversely of the section 36 and the vertical driven shaft 33. A stud 38 having a ball 39 on a projecting end thereof is adapted to register in a socket 40 formed in a rotatable disc 4| which in turn is positioned on one end of a drive shaft 42. It will thus be seen that rotating movement imparted to the disc 4! will cause the ball 39 to travel in a circular pattern which will impart oscillating movement to the vertical driven shaft 33 and that the vertical movement will be dissipated by the vertical hinge action of the pivoted section 35 in which the stud 38 carrying the ball 39 is positioned. Thus desirable oscillating movement may be imparted to the vertical driven shaft 33 and objectionable vertical movement thereof eliminated.

A still further modification of the invention may be seen by referring to Figures 8 and 9 of thedrawings wherein a modified structure capable of providing oscillating movement of a shaft through a complete half revolution is disclosed. In FiguresB and f the drawingsa driven shaft 43 is positioned in a bushin 44 which in turn is afiixed to a casing 45. A rotatable disc 46 is formed on one end of the drive shaft 43 and is located within the casing 45. A portion of the rotatable disc 45 is cut away to provide an area 41 in which an arm 48 may be positioned. The arm 48 is pivoted to the disc 48 by a pivot 49 and the opposite end of the arm 46 is provided with a socket 50 and a retaining 'nut5|. When this structure is used in connection'witha driven shaft 52 positionedin a tubularguide member 53 and having a block 54 positioned in oppositely disposed slots -55 thereinv (as disclosed in Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings and heretofore described), and the block 54 is provided With-astnd 55 having .a b'all 5-1 formedona projecting'end thereof, Lit will be seen that the rotating movement of the disc 43 will be transmitted' tot'he driven shaft 52 through the pivot 49, the arm 48 and the ball 51 engaging the socket 50 in the arm 48,

As the ball 51 is formed on the projecting end of the stud 56 which in turn is positioned in the block 54, the oscillating movement imparted to the driven shaft 52 may be of different degree than that of the mechanism heretofore described in that the arm 48 will swing out of its position in the disc 46 so as to move the stud 56 and the ball 51 thereon through a complete half circle and thereby impart that degree of motion to the driven shaft 52. The hinging action of the arm 48 on the pivot 49 makes possible the large degree of oscillating movement obtained and the block 54 sliding vertically in the slots 55 in the driven shaft 52 enable the vertical movement to be dissipated.

It will thus be seen that three forms of the gearless oscillating drive have been disclosed, all of which are of extremely simple construction, capable of economic manufacture and eflicient in operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An oscillating drive mechanism including a drive shaft and a driven shaft, a block positioned for axial movement in the said driven shaft and a stud positioned in the said block and having a ball formed on a projecting end thereof, and means on the drive shaft for engaging the said ball so that circular movement may be imparted thereto.

2. An oscillating drive including a driven shaft and a drive shaft, means for rotating the drive shaft, a disc formed on the drive shaft and a socket positioned in said disc, a slot formed in the 6 said driven shaft and a block positioned therein for axial movement thereof, and means connecting the said block with the said socket in the disc so that rotating movement of the disc may be transposed to oscillating movement in the drive shaft thereby.

3. Means for oscillating an agitator of a washing machine construction, the said means including a tubular guide member, a driven shaft positioned in the said tubular guide member, an opening formed in the said guide member and a casing positioned thereabout, a rotatable member positioned in the said casing and a socket formed in the said rotatable member, a slot formed in the said driven shaft and a block positioned therein for axial travel thereof, a stud having a ball formed on a projecting portion thereof positioned in said block, the said ball engaging the said socket in the said rotatable member, and means for imparting rotating movement to the said rotatable member.

HOWARD S. BANCROFT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1909 Number Number 

